Booster roll for intermittent feeds

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to supply means for web or ribbon feed machines where the ribbon is unreeled from a storage supply means such as a reel in substantially continuous motion, and is fed through the mechanism of the machine by an intermittent motion. The purpose of the invention is to provide mechanical filter means cooperating with a booster assist drive connected to the main drive of the device to translate the intermittent motion of the feed of the machine to a smooth, continuous motion at the supply means or reel for the ribbon. In the preferred form of the invention, the booster is a cylindrical roll in the ribbon pathway adapted to frictionally engage the ribbon, and the mechanical filter comprises a ribbon holding means, or brake, to prevent the ribbon from reversing its motion, and a coercing member, such as a tension member, spring urged against the ribbon within the ribbon pathway, between the ribbon holding means and the booster roll, as will be more fully described and claimed hereinbelow.

United States Patent inventor James Keith Macomber Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Appl. No. 719,028

Filed Apr. 5, 1968 Patented May 11, 1971 Assignee Consolidated Educational Publishing,

Inc

Long Island, N.Y.

BOOSTER ROLL FOR INTERMI'I'I'ENT FEEDS Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Attorney-Edward l-lalle ABSTRACT: This invention relates to supply means for web or ribbon feed machines where the ribbon is unreeled from a storage supply means such as a reel in substantially continuous motion, and is fed through the mechanism of the machine by an intermittent motion. The purpose of the invention is to provide mechanical filter means cooperating with a booster assist drive connected to the main drive of the device to translate the intermittent motion of the feed of the machine to a smooth, continuous motion at the supply means or reel for the ribbon. In the preferred form of the invention, the booster is a cylindrical roll in the ribbon pathway adapted to frictionally engage the ribbon, and the mechanical filter comprises a ribbon holding means, or brake, to prevent the ribbon from reversing its motion, and a coercing member, such as a tension member, spring urged against the ribbon within the ribbon pathway, between the ribbon holding means and the booster roll, as will be more fully described and claimed hereinbelow.

Patented May 11,1971 3,578,229

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 2 IN VIiN'IOR. JAMES KEITH MACOMBER ATTORNEY BOOSTER ROLL FOR INTERMITTENT FEEDS it is therefore, an object of this invention to provide an auxiliary drive for intermittent feeds to supply additional force to drive the ribbon in addition to the intermittent feed drive 3 necessary to advance a ribbon or web. fed by the device.

tional drive means in the fonn of a booster roll cooperating with mechanical filter means to improve the drive of an intermittent feed device.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the specification hereinbelow. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side elevation of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

PK]. 3 is an end elevation of a brake assembly as seen from arrows 3-3 in FIG. I;

- FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the brake assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the lines 5-5 of H0. '3;

. FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view along the lines 6-6 of I FIG. 3. showing the brake elements in a different position;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the brake elements of FIGS. 3 through '6 inclusive showing the forward end of a ribbon 24 about to be fed through;

HO. 8 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 7 showing the brake elements in position with a ribbon in the ribbon path;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to H0. 6 showing an alternate form of brake assembly; and I FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 9 showing a third alternate form of brake assembly.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A reciprocating intermittent feed mechanism comprising a carriage 21. and a pair of jaws 22 or other means for pulling,

' advancing or feeding a web or ribbon 24 through a ribbon pathway 26 is shown in FIG. I of the drawings. The. reciprocating mechanism 20 is driven by a link 28 and a crank 30 driven by a shaft 32. This intermittent feed mechanism 20 is shown merely for purposes of illustrating the invention. and may be any type of intermittent feed having means to intermittently advance a ribbon or web 24. For example. in my mentioned copending application for Label Feed. there is a cranklink-carriage arrangement. and in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3.0l3.368, there is a roller type of feed in which there is means to cause the roller to advance the ribbon intermittently.

The booster means of this invention is for use in applications of intennittent feeding where it is desirable to minimize the tension necessary to pull the ribbon through the intermittent feeding stage. Examples of such situations are where a thin paper ribbon. being advanced by feed jaws. might tear unless the tension was reduced to a minimum.

One object of this invention is achieved by the booster means, such as a driven roll mounted on a shaft 42 mounted on the main frame 44 of the device. The booster roll is driven at a speed proportional to the speed of the main drive of the device by means of a transmission means 46 which. in this case. is shown as a round transmission belt. However. any gear train or other transmission means from the main drive of the device to the booster roll may be employed to drive it at a constant speed ratio.,l have found that the booster roll 40 should be driven at a speed where its circumferential surface 52 travels in the direction of the arrow at a speed greater than the speed of the ribbon 24 as it unrecls front supply or storage means. such as supply reel 50. i will explain this more fully hereinbclow.

1 also provide mechanical filter means which includes tension member means comprising a thin curved plate 54 mounted on elastic means such as springy wires or springs 56. The elastic mounting means 56'are mounted in turn on the main frame 44 of the device adjacent the ribbon pathway 26. Finally, I provide ribbon holding means, or brake means 58 along the ribbon pathway 26 to insure that the ribbon will not back up due to reaction of tension plate 54, and yet to provide for a minimum resistance to motion of the ribbon 24 in the forward direction.

As the ribbon 24 unwinds from the supply reel 50. it advances tangentially to the circumference of the booster roll 40 where it wraps around in contact with the circumferential surface of the booster roll. The ribbon then proceeds to the spring-mounted tension plate 54in a direction which forms an angle of approximately 90 with the relaxed position of the springs 56. The spring-mounted tension plate 54 is usually adjusted, in its relaxed position, so that the ribbon 24 departs from the plate 54in a direction in line with that part of the ribbon path 26 which includes the brake 58 and the feed jaws 22. The path followed by the web or ribbon 24 from .unwind at reel 50 to jaws 22 is the ribbon pathway 26. i

The reason for the bends in the ribbon pathway is to provide for the deflection of the plate 54 against reaction of springs 56, and also to provide means to wrap the ribbon 24 around the friction surface 52 of booster roll 40 for as great a contact angle as practical so that the friction force imparted to the ribbon 24 by the booster roll 40 may be an effective friction drive means to help advance the ribbon 24 as 1 will describe hereinbelow.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the carriage 21 near the first end of the ribbon pathway 26 is caused to reciprocate with approximately hamionic motion by action of the link 28 and crank 30 connected to the main drive shaft 32 which rotates at a selected constant speed when the device is in operation. Jaws 22 engage a perforation such as a cross cut. or any other form of engaging means, of the web or ribbon to feed forward a length of ribbon 24 constituting a label. to be cut off by a severing mechanism. not shown here. but described in either of my prior U.S. Pat No. 3,01 3,368 or U.S.

Pat. No. 3,174,371, or in my copending application for Label Feed Scr. No. 475,220. The ribbon 24 is held stationary by a brake or holding means 58 during the next half cycle while the jaws 22 return to engage the ribbon 24 for the next forward stroke.

A roll of labels connected together in a continuous web or ribbon 24 is on the supply reel 50 at the second end of the ribbon pathway 26. Ribbon 24 contains anywhere from 1,000 to l()0.0()0 labels wound in a roll which may be as large as 2 feet or more in diameter. Since there is considerable weight to the label roll and supply reel 50 combination, it is obviously impractical to attempt to feed label lengths intermittently, at high speed. directly from the supply reel, by the jaw motion described hereinabove, unless a free loop is maintained. by electric eye control or otherwise. between the feed jaws 22 and the supply reel 50. or unless a mechanical filter is provided to convert the forward intermittent motion of the ribbon at the feed jaws 22 to smooth continuous forward motion at the supply reel 50.

Such a mechanical filter is disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3.0 l 3,740 which shows the combination, in that patent, of a supply reel 24 with a nonlubricated friction bearing 28, a spring mounted tension plate 30 and a brake 44. These three elements are shown in the instant invention in FIG. 1. namely supply reel friction bearing 51, spring mounted tension plate 54 and ribbon holding or brake means 58. The ribbon holding means or brake 58 shown herein presents marked improvements over the brake of the prior art in that it exerts substantially less resistance to forward motion of the ribbon 24 and positively prevents backward motion. The booster roll 40 constitutes a very important addition in that it supplies most of the power necessary to advance the web or ribbon 24, thereby greatly reducing the tension force imparted by the intermit- 24. This is important because the web ,or ribbon ollabels is usually paper twoto founthousandths of an inch thick. weakened by the aforesaid perforations such as cuts or other engaging means. Reducing stresses in the web 24 at the point of jaw engagement reduces the likelihood of tearing.

The booster roll 40 functions in the following manner: when the label feeding device shown in FIG. I is started, the jaws 22 engage the ribbon 24 and advance or feed a label length forward. lmmediately, the spring supports 56 of the tension plate 54 bend up by an amount sufficient to allow one label to feed. The amount of the upward motion of the tension plate 54 from its relaxed position 54 to position 54a is a measure of the tension in ribbon 24 at that point in the ribbon pathway 26. The tension in the ribbon 24 starts the supply reel 50 to rotate causing the ribbon 24 to unwind. The supply reel 50 loaded with ribbon 24 continues to rotate due to its inertia. allowing the tension plate 54 to return to its original relaxed position (as at reference numeral 54) and. due to its inertia, to continue downward past its original relaxed position to position 5417 which is closer to position 54 than was position 54a. As the machine continues to run, the tension plate 54 is in the upper phase (54a) of its oscillation cycle while the jaws 22 are advancing the ribbon 24 forward, and in the lower phase (54h) of its oscillation cycle while the jaws 22 are returning to engage the next length of the ribbon 24. At the top position of the tension plate (540). the ribbon 24 is in tension and bears against the booster roll 40 which, turning at its circumference 52 faster than the ribbon motion, helps to advance the ribbon 24 by friction force. At the bottom position of the tension plate (540 l, the ribbon 24 is not in tension, so there is no friction force at the circumference 52 of the booster roll 40 and, therefore. no friction driving force by the booster roll 40.

The net effect is to cause the ribbon 24 to unreel slightly faster than average speed when the tension plate 54 is at the top (54a) and at slightly slower than average speed when the tension plate is at the bottom (54h). During each feed cycle the force to increase the unreeling speed is supplied mostly by the booster roll 40 and the force to decrease the unreeling speed is supplied by the friction bearing 51. The diameter of the bearing 51 determines the friction torque and it is just large enough to prevent overshot-iting which would cause slack to appear in the ribbon. When the machine is running at its normal operating speed, the rotation of the reel 50 appears to be smooth." The slight change in its speed during each cycle is imperceptible to the eye.

In the above description, the term up and down." top" and bottom." and upper and lower phases. referring to the motion of the tension plate 54 are relative and are used for clarity in referring to H0. l. Actually, the feed mechanism described can run on its side or upside-down or in any other position and function satisfactorily.

Experiments have shown that the deflection of the spring supported tension plate 54, in the instant application, with the booster roll working. is much less than in its deflection without benefit of the booster roll. ln fact, the deflection of the tension member 54 with the booster roll 40 operating is less than onehalf what it is without the booster roll, indicating that the tension in the web is reduced more than 50 percent by using the booster roll.

The web tension is further reduced by using the new type of band holding means 58 which reduces the friction when the web is being moved forward to almost zero, but at the same time is so constructed that if there is an attempt to move it backwards by virtue of any residual tension in the springs 56 actuating the tension plate 54. the new hand holding means 58 will act to hold the web or ribbon so there is no reverse motion whatsoever. The combination of these two devices. the booster roll and the new ribbon holding means, insures that ribbons that might be fragile on account of being made of thin paper or being of such a shape as to make them tear easily than others. can be successfully fed without damage.

While I have described the tension plate 54 of the tension member means as a plate which may be a thin curved steel plate, the tension plate portion of the tension member means may be any form of body portion on the tension members means comprising a curved surface. it may also take the form of a wheel or roller mounted on spring means, or other elastic means.

The ribbon holding means, or brake 58, is in an assembly which is provided with a frame comprising a pair of frame members 62 which are situated on either side of the ribbon pathway 26. Knife edge bearings 68 on bearing blocks 69 are provided within the frame members 62 to support a pair of brake elements 64 each having a knife edge 66 at one end thereof adapted to turn through a small angle within the knife edge bearings 68. At the other end of each brake element 64, there is a cylindrical surface 71 at a radius from a point 65 to provide for movement of the ribbon 24 in a forward direction, and to block movement of the ribbon 24 in a rearward direction. The brake elements 64 are held in place with relation to the bearing blocks 69 by light springs 72, and screws 74, in any appropriate manner which would hold them in a normal position as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 7, and will yet permit them to swing out through a small angle when the ribbon is between them, as in H0. 8.

The action of the ribbon holding means 58 with the ribbon 24 between its elements provides for a minimum of friction in the forward direction because as the ribbon moves forward, the cylindrical surfaces 71 are caused to rotate outwardly by the ribbon friction against the weak action of springs 72 to permit the gap between cylindrical surfaces 71 to widen and permit the ribbon to pass through. When the ribbon stops its forward motion and, by action of tension plate 54 and springs 56. there is a rearward pull on the ribbon, the cylindrical surfaces 71 rotate in a backward direction by brake elements 64 rotating on their knife edge bearings 66 against the angle bearings 68, thereby reducing the gap'between cylindrical surfaces 71 and clamping the ribbon 24 between them. When the ribbon is pulled forward again, the brake elements 64 again rotate toward the forward part of the ribbon pathway opening the gap between cylindrical surfaces 71 to substantially reduce the friction of the forward movement.

The brake locking action described hereinabove is dependent on the position of contact of ribbon 24 between surfaces 71 of brake blocks 64 being at a point forward of the knife edge bearings 66 with relation to the ribbon pathway 24. This is accomplished by providing the cylindrical surfaces 71 with an axis such as point 65 as shown in H6. 7 of the drawings farther forward in ribbon pathway 26 than knife edge bearing 66. Thus, the point of contact 73 between the cylindrical surfaces 71 in offset in a forward direction with relation to bearings 66.

While I have described the surfaces 7l as being surfaces of cylindrical wedges or curved in a circular fashion, it is not necessary that the curves be arcs of circles. There are many satisfactory ways in which the surfaces can be curved so long as the contact point 73 is offset in a forward direction from the bearings 66.

It is desirable that both brake blocks 64 swing in unison for the device to function in the most satisfactory manner. in order to accomplish this, 1 have provided at least one pin with a hemispherical protrusion 82 adapted to fit into a recess opening'84, the pin 80 being in one of the brake blocks 64 and the recess opening 84 being in the other cooperating brake blocks. Hemispherical protrusion 82 will ride within opening 84, and thus both brake blocks will be kept at the same angle of displacement during the operation of the brake 58. it is necessary, of course. to have pin 80 at the side of the ribbon pathway rather than in the middle in the type of installation shown in the drawings. 1 have, therefore, provided two of such pins, one on each side of the ribbon pathway 26. Any gear tooth arrangement or similar means could be used instead of the pin and recess construction just described.

I also show in FIG. 9 an alternate form of brakeblock construction in which the knife edge bearings are replaced with an elastic connection such as a spring which bends and acts as a hinge for brake element 92. ln all other respects, this alof the ribbon by the feed ternate forrn works in the same manner as the construction described hereinabove. y 9

ln H0. 10, 1 show another form of holding means. ln this backwardly to clamp the ribbon between its surface 7i and surface 96.

While I have described my invention in its preferred forms, there are other forms which it may take without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and'l, therefore, desire to be protected in all forms coming within the claims hereinbelow.

l claim:

1. Supply means for a feed device for a web, ribbon, or the like, said device including a main frame, a ribbon in a ribbon pathway having a first end and a second end, and intermittent feed means. to feed the ribbon at the first end of the ribbon pathway; with said supply means comprising ribbon storage means at the second end of said ribbon pathway, mechanical ,filter means associated with said ribbon pathway between said ribbon storage means and said intermittent feed means, said mechanical filter means converting the intermittent, motion of the ribbon at the feed means into continuous motion of the ribbon where it leaves the ribbon storage means; and booster means positioned along said ribbon pathwaybetween said ribbon storage means and at least a portion of said mechanical filter. means. said booster means comprising friction drive means including a moving friction'surface portion normally positioned to contact the ribbon when placed in tension by the feed means, said movingfriction surface moving at a speed greater than the speed of the ribbon; the contact between the I ribbon and the moving friction surface being provided by pull meansand pressure of the filter means. 2. Supply means for intermittent feed means as defined in claim 1, including ribbon holding means associated with the ribbon pathway positioned between the intermittent feed means and at least a portion of the mechanical filter means.

4. Supply means for intermittent feed means as defined in claim 2, in which the ribbon holding means is movably positioned to apply friction to the web, being movable with relation to the web to apply less friction .in a forward direction of web motion than in a backward direction,

4. Supply means as defined'in claim I, in which the intermittent feed means and the friction drive means are driven by main drive means of the device with the speed of said friction surface being greater than the speed of the ribbon as it leaves the ribbon storage means.

5. Supply means as defined in claim 4, in which the friction drive means is substantially cylindrical in form with said friction surface portion being the circumference. thereof.

6. Supply means as defined in claim 5, in which the mechanicalfilter means comprises tension member means mounted in association with the ribbon pathway by means of a mounting'which comprises elastic means.

7. The supply means as defined in claim 6, in which the tension member means includes a body portion comprising a curved surfaces 8. The supply means as defined in claim 6, in which the elastic means of the tension member means comprises at least one spring.

9. The supply means as defined in claim 6, in which the ribbon pathway runs from the ribbon storage means around a portion of the circumference of the friction surface portion, thence toward said tension member means of said mechanical filter means, thence along a surface of said tension member means and thence to said-intermittent feed means.

10. The supply means as defined in claim 9, including ribbon holding means associated with the ribbon pathway positioned between the intermittent feed means and the tension member means of the mechanical filter means.

ll. The supply means as defined in claim 10, in which the ribbon holding means is friction activated and comprises at least one movable element adapted to generate friction against the ribbon during theforward movement of the ribbon, and generate increased friction againstthe ribbon on a rearward movement of the ribbon.

LII 

1. Supply means for a feed device for a web, ribbon, or the like, said device incluDing a main frame, a ribbon in a ribbon pathway having a first end and a second end, and intermittent feed means to feed the ribbon at the first end of the ribbon pathway; with said supply means comprising ribbon storage means at the second end of said ribbon pathway, mechanical filter means associated with said ribbon pathway between said ribbon storage means and said intermittent feed means, said mechanical filter means converting the intermittent motion of the ribbon at the feed means into continuous motion of the ribbon where it leaves the ribbon storage means; and booster means positioned along said ribbon pathway between said ribbon storage means and at least a portion of said mechanical filter means, said booster means comprising friction drive means including a moving friction surface portion normally positioned to contact the ribbon when placed in tension by the feed means, said moving friction surface moving at a speed greater than the speed of the ribbon; the contact between the ribbon and the moving friction surface being provided by pull of the ribbon by the feed means and pressure of the filter means.
 2. Supply means for intermittent feed means as defined in claim 1, including ribbon holding means associated with the ribbon pathway positioned between the intermittent feed means and at least a portion of the mechanical filter means.
 4. Supply means as defined in claim 1, in which the intermittent feed means and the friction drive means are driven by main drive means of the device with the speed of said friction surface being greater than the speed of the ribbon as it leaves the ribbon storage means.
 4. Supply means for intermittent feed means as defined in claim 2, in which the ribbon holding means is movably positioned to apply friction to the web, being movable with relation to the web to apply less friction in a forward direction of web motion than in a backward direction.
 5. Supply means as defined in claim 4, in which the friction drive means is substantially cylindrical in form with said friction surface portion being the circumference thereof.
 6. Supply means as defined in claim 5, in which the mechanical filter means comprises tension member means mounted in association with the ribbon pathway by means of a mounting which comprises elastic means.
 7. The supply means as defined in claim 6, in which the tension member means includes a body portion comprising a curved surface.
 8. The supply means as defined in claim 6, in which the elastic means of the tension member means comprises at least one spring.
 9. The supply means as defined in claim 6, in which the ribbon pathway runs from the ribbon storage means around a portion of the circumference of the friction surface portion, thence toward said tension member means of said mechanical filter means, thence along a surface of said tension member means, and thence to said intermittent feed means.
 10. The supply means as defined in claim 9, including ribbon holding means associated with the ribbon pathway positioned between the intermittent feed means and the tension member means of the mechanical filter means.
 11. The supply means as defined in claim 10, in which the ribbon holding means is friction activated and comprises at least one movable element adapted to generate friction against the ribbon during the forward movement of the ribbon, and generate increased friction against the ribbon on a rearward movement of the ribbon. 